Women’s Contribution to Peace and Security
Women’s participation in peace processes is not simply a matter of human rights, it’s also a security imperative. It is argued that the role of women is an indispensable mechanism for trust and confidence-building that enhances genuine reconciliation in societies affected by conflict. PSD with support from Women Peace and Fund (WPHF) and UN Women is implementing a project aimed at empowering women to promote peaceful and gender equal societies in Wakiso district. Women will be trained on early warning signs of conflicts, how and where to report and how to respond in case conflicts arise.
Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security was the first resolution to address women’s issues in the international peace and security agenda. Member States, the United Nations system, civil society, and parties to conflict were called upon to, among others, acknowledge the role of and address the plight of women in situations of armed conflict. The new Council on Foreign Relations Interactive report, “Women’s Participation in Peace Processes” tracks women’s involvement in peace efforts and explores how women have contributed to major peace agreements from 1990 to the present. UN High-level Advisory Board on Mediation, is part of the UN’s effort to invest more in conflict prevention and mediation: it’s evident that half of its members are female, including Ms. Sima Samar who succeeded former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in 2019, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, the former Finnish President Tarja Halonen, and Tanzania’s Asha-Rose Migiro who championed the UN’s fight against poverty through the implementation of the “Delivering as one” strategy. She also spearheaded Tanzania’s engagement in the pursuit of peace, security, and development in the grate lakes region. In the United States, the Women Peace, And Security Act was passed to improve accountability and efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts by increasing women’s participation in peace and security processes.
In Uganda, through the African Union, East African Community, and the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, there has been commitment by the government to strengthen collaboration on enhancing women’s participation and empowerment in conflict prevention, mediation, and resolution.
At PSD, we believe that women have an important role to play in ensuring durable peace, security, and development.
